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All notes courtesy of SMSU athletics communications.
HIS WEEK
The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s soccer team (0-4-1, 0-2 NSIC) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on the road this weekend.
The Mustangs travel north facing Minnesota Crookston on Friday, Sept. 18, at 3 p.m., before coming up against Minnesota State Moorhead on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
The Mustangs dropped a pair of matches at home last weekend, falling 2-1 to Minnesota Duluth on Friday before suffering a 3-0 setback to Bemidji State on Sunday.
SMSU opened NSIC play against Minnesota Duluth, with senior Abigail Schmidt scoring the Mustangs’ lone goal in the 2-1 loss.
Freshman goalkeeper Madelyn Cory started in both games, making eight saves against UMD, and five against BSU.
2026 OUTLOOK
SMSU head coach Clay Glasgow, entering his fifth season, returns 13 letter winners from 2025 and features seven seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen.
SMSU senior defenders Illjana Arbaugh and Abigail Schmidt have scored the Mustangs two goals this season. Junior forward Jada Backes assisted Arbaugh's goal against Upper Iowa.
The Mustangs veteran backline of Arbaugh, Sophia Sonnek, Janae Kayser, and Jayna Benson have started four of SMSU's five matches, playing an average of 83 minutes per game.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kennady Krebs returns after starting in net 15 times in 2025, making 93 saves. Krebs has started in three matches, making 12 saves.
Freshman goalkeeper Madelyn Cory has also started in three matches, making 19 saves, including her season-high eight save performance against UMD last Friday.
HEAD COACH CLAY GLASGOW
Clay Glasgow is in his fifth season as head coach and has a record of 14-51-11 overall, including 13-40-7 in NSIC play. He was hired as the sixth head coach in program history on Feb. 25, 2022.
Glasgow came to SMSU after spending eight seasons (2014-21) as head women’s soccer coach at Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.), recording a mark of 49-86-5.
During his last two seasons at DWU, the Tigers amassed back-to-back winning seasons and qualified for the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament both seasons.
SERIES HISTORY -- MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
The Mustangs will face Minnesota Crookston for the 31st time on Friday, with SMSU holding a 25-3-1 advantage in the all-time series.
SMSU has won eight straight meetings against the Golden Eagles, including a 1-0 victory in the most recent matchup on Sept. 28, 2025, in Marshall.
The Mustangs have also won the last three meetings in Crookston, including a 2-0 victory in 2024. SMSU is 12-2-1 all-time against Minnesota Crookston on the road.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend with a 0-3-2 record after opening NSIC play with losses to Augustana and Wayne State last weekend.
Sophomore goalkeeper Phoenix DeBrusk has provided a strong presence in net for the Golden Eagles. DeBrusk earned NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week honors after the opening weekend and enters the season with a 1.1 goals-against average, two shutouts, 18 saves and a .783 save percentage through five starts.
Senior midfielder Emmah Burnes returns after earning All-NSIC Second Team honors in 2025. Burnes anchors the Golden Eagle midfield and has two shots through the team’s opening matches this season.
Head coach Danny Burstein is in his second season leading the Golden Eagles.
SERIES HISTORY -- MSU MOORHEAD
The Mustangs will face Minnesota State Moorhead for the 35th time on Sunday, with SMSU holding a 16-15-3 advantage in the all-time series.
MSUM won the most recent meeting, rallying for a 3-2 victory over the Mustangs in Marshall on Sept. 26, 2025. SMSU had won the previous two meetings, including a 3-1 victory in Moorhead in 2024.
The Mustangs are 7-8-1 all-time against the Dragons in Moorhead.
SCOUTING MSU MOORHEAD
MSU Moorhead enters the weekend with a 2-2-1 record, including a 1-1 mark in NSIC play.
Sophomore goalkeeper Emilia Bukholt Kristensen earned the starting job for the Dragons after transferring from Hawkeye Community College. She made seven saves in MSUM’s season-opening 1-0 victory over Minnesota Crookston. Bukholt Kristensen earned NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week honors on Monday for her performance in MSUM's win over Wayne State.
Freshman forward Erika Bergh scored the game-winning goal against Minnesota Crookston for her first collegiate goal, while junior midfielder Mary Cox recorded an assist.
Cox and senior defender Lizzy Jaraczeski were selected as MSUM’s Players to Watch in the 2026 NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Head coach Scott Forster is in his third season leading the Dragons.
SMSU PICKED 13TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
SMSU was selected 13th in the 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
NSIC regular season and tournament champion Minnesota State was selected as the favorite to win the conference again, receiving 13 first-place votes and 223 points.
Concordia-St. Paul finished second with 204 points and three first-place votes, followed by Bemidji State with 193 points, Augustana with 174 points and St. Cloud State with 164 points.
SMSU’s 13th-place selection came with 65 points.
Junior forward Jada Backes and senior defender Sophia Sonnek were both named Players to Watch in the preseason poll.
MUSTANG HISTORY
SMSU is in its 31st season of soccer in 2026 and 30th season of competition (2020 was canceled).
The Mustangs have compiled an all-time record of 168-329-40, including 122-195-26 in NSIC games.
SMSU has made 14 NSIC tournaments and played in the region championship of the NCAA Tournament in 2013.
SMSU has recorded four winning seasons in program history, with the last coming in 2019.